The Patriots dared the Rams’ quarterback to beat them — he couldn’t, and it determined the Super Bowl

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ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams hands the ball off in the first half during Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots and Julian Edelman #11 celebrate their teams 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Fireworks shoot in the air above Mercedes-Benz stadium during halftime of Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Trey Flowers #98 and Dont'a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots sack Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with daughter Vivian who raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 3: The Los Angeles Rams' Jared Goff is pressured by New England Patriots' Kyle Van Noy in the first quarter during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on February 3, 2019. (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots celebrates his teams 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: James Develin #46 of the New England Patriots celebrates with his son after the Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams throws a pass against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is interviewed as he carries his daughter Vivian Lake Brady after the Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

ATLANTA GA. - FEBRUARY 3: Los Angeles Rams' Jared Goff gets off a pas under heavy pressure from the New England Patriots during the fist half of Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, GA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots celebrates with his daughter Lily at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 3: The Los Angeles Rams' Jared Goff hands off in the first quarter during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on February 3, 2019. (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Patrick Chung #23 of the New England Patriots holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams is pursued by Malcom Brown #90 of the New England Patriots in the second quarter during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: The New England Patriots celebrate their 13-3 win in Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during the National Anthem at Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams looks to pass against the New England Patriots in the second quarter during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after his teams 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Kyle Van Noy #53 of the New England Patriots sacks Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 3: Patriots Kyle Van Noy high fives a coach near the end of second quarter to Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on February 3, 2019. (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 3: Players dump sports during on New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as the Patriots win Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on February 3, 2019. (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots and teammates celebrate after winning the Super Bowl LIII at against the Los Angeles Rams Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 3: Rams Coach Sean McVay near the end of second quarter to Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on February 3, 2019. (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

ATLANTA GA. - FEBRUARY 3: Los Angelas Ram Marcus Peters stops New England PAtriot Corderelle Patterson from getting a first down late in the second quarter of Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, GA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a pass in the first half of the Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 3: New England Patriots' Cordarrelle Patterson carries the ball in the first quarter of Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on February 3, 2019. (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Jason McCourty #30 of the New England Patriots defends a pass against Josh Reynolds #83 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Stephen Gostkowski #3 of the New England Patriots scores a 42-yard-field goal in the second quarter during Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is sacked by Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: James White #28 of the New England Patriots runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams first quarter during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Marcus Peters #22 of the Los Angeles Rams defends a pass against Chris Hogan #15 of the New England Patriots in the first half of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Rex Burkhead #34 of the New England Patriots is tackled by Nickell Robey-Coleman #23 of the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots gives instructions to his teammates in the first half of the Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Rex Burkhead #34 of the New England Patriots runs the ball agaisnt John Johnson III #43 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarterof the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Cordarrelle Patterson #84 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half of Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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Patriots coach Bill Belichick won his eighth Super Bowl ring on Sunday, as New England won the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history, 13-3. The win further cemented his place as the greatest head coach and defensive mind in the history of football.

Frankly, it was easy work: all Belichick and his Patriots had to do to claim that historic win was overwhelm the Rams’ young quarterback, Bay Area native Jared Goff.

It was clear that it was a complete mismatch from the first snap of the game — Goff was not ready for the Patriots, and the Rams’ whiz-kid head coach and offensive play caller, 33-year-old Sean McVay, couldn’t do a thing to help his quarterback, either.

Goff’s poor play defined the contest.

And, as harsh as it might seem, Super Bowl LIII might end up defining the young quarterback’s career.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Goff just finished his third year in the league and his second as a full-time starter. At 24, he likely has 10 to 15 years of play ahead of him, regardless of Sunday’s outcome.

He also has talent that few other quarterbacks in the NFL possess — this is a guy who can make all the throws and even outright win a playoff game for his team, something we saw in the NFC Championship Game last month. (Technically speaking.)

There are hundreds of reasons to be optimistic about the former No. 1 overall pick’s future and, in turn, the Rams’, too. Maybe Sunday was too early for him to break through. He should have plenty of time to make amends.

At the same time, a big reason the Rams made the Super Bowl this year is because they went all-in, signing big-money free agents in an effort to maximize the cost-effectiveness Goff’s rookie contract provides them.

Goff will have a salary cap hit of $8.89 million next season, up a little more than a million over this past season. That relatively low number will give the Rams a chance to re-sign impact players like Ndamukong Suh, Rodger Saffold, Dante Fowler, and Aqib Talib and make another run at the title.

But after the 2019 season, Goff will need a new, big-money deal. And unless he wins the Super Bowl next year or is a bonafide MVP candidate — shedding the “system quarterback” label that has been placed on him — Sunday’s could stand as Exhibit A in the case against giving him a market-value $30 million-plus contract.

(Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

Again, flummoxing Goff was all too easy for Belichick and the Patriots on Sunday. He didn’t look anything like a nine-figure quarterback

The Patriots wanted to put the game and the Rams’ Super Bowl hopes solely in the young Goff’s hands. Then, they wanted to throw a variety of exotic and confounding defensive looks at him.

If they did that, the player told NFL Network’s Michael Giardi, Goff would “[bleep] his pants”.

The Patriots executed that game plan to perfection. Based on the way Goff played, I would not have wanted to be the Rams’ laundryman.

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

New England’s defense took a few keys they picked up over the last few weeks of the regular season and playoffs — specifically not biting on play-action fakes — and mixed in some trademark Belichick defensive concepts — taking away the opposing team’s top receiver, attacking their weak point on the opposing offensive line, and playing tight man-to-man coverage. They dared Goff to make winning throws all night, and despite having all the arm talent in the world, he couldn’t do it. He failed to throw to open receivers time and time again, and when he did throw, his passes were often wobbly and inaccurate. The Rams boasted arguably the best offense in the NFL in the regular season, but Goff finished the biggest game of the year with 229 yards on 50 percent passing — all good for a ghoulish 57.9 quarterback rating. Los Angeles punted on their first eight possessions.

The funny thing is, all Goff needed to do was lead one touchdown drive before the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and the Rams likely would have won the title. Los Angeles’ highly-paid (but totally worth it) defense was outstanding on Sunday, and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had one of his worst Super Bowl performances to date.

It took the Patriots running the same play three times in a row — Hoss Y Juke — in the fourth quarter to set up the only touchdown of the contest.

Yes, one drive won the Super Bowl for New England.

Ten miserably failed drives lost it for the Rams.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

When Goff’s big money contract is due, you can bet that the Rams brass will remember Sunday’s game.

And with that memory in mind, will they bet on their young head coach — the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2017 — to develop another young quarterback or a cheaper veteran option at the position in an effort to keep the full 53-man roster as strong as possible?

It’s an option that needs to be seriously considered.

Because when you pay a quarterback $30 million plus per year, it’s near impossible to field a complete team. There’s simply not enough money to go around when one player takes up that much of the pie. And it’s a disastrous option if that player isn’t trancendent enough to singlehandedly give their team a chance to win every game they play.

The Rams’ decision on Goff could have a massive ripple effect on the NFL. Quarterback is the most important position in the sport, hence the large contracts — but what if the Rams didn’t follow that standard protocol? They might make the entire league re-think how they build teams.

Yes, Sunday’s game might have been a bore. The lackluster commercials and the even worse halftime show might have been better entertainment. But don’t try to wipe Sunday’s game from memory — it might be a contest that we look a back on in a few years as a pivotal moment for the league.